The baby that Madonna wants to adopt has been flown out his home country of Malawi, reports say.
With criticism growing in Africa and around the world, thirteen-month-old David Banda looks set to begin a new life in the UK. He was escorted by one of Madonna's security guards, as well as a personal assistant.A spokesman for Madonna and film-maker husband Guy Ritchie is already referring to the respective parties as "family", stating, "It is expected that the family will be reunited within the next few days."
It is illegal for foreigners to immediately adopt children in Malawi. Madonna received a special exemption from the country's high court to fast-track the process.
The baby's departure comes as human rights groups prepared a legal challenge to what they perceived as preferential treatment for the uber-wealthy pop singer.
Justin Dronzi - chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) - told People magazine, "The laws of Malawi are clear that if one wants to adopt a child one has to stay with the child for at least 18 months for assessment."
A spokesman for Eye of the Child, one of the NGOs associated with the HRCC, also stated his concerns. Boniface Mandere told Reuters, "[The government] haven't followed the law. What has happened is a shortcut."
This all comes as the world grows more cynical toward celebrities using philanthropy and allusions of altruism as part of their publicity machine. Madonna reportedly consulted former president Bill Clinton, and renowned Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs on how best to approach her visit to Africa.
There were also reports that Madonna had sent a crew of advisers to create a shortlist of 12 Malawian children, from which one would be chosen for adoption.
There is growing concern that such celebrity visits provide little more than false hope for poverty-stricken communities, with little attention paid to the long-term welfare of the world's poorest people.
Mac Forsyth, director of Plymouth-based Medic Malawi, explained to The Guardian that offshore sponsorship of struggling families is a far more productive form of philanthropy. He said, "I think it quite wrong that any country should waive its existing laws for a celebrity of any sort. There are far better ways to support a country and the needs of many children. This is one child, that leaves 999,999 orphans."
Meanwhile, the child's father Yohane Banda has admitted that he did not fully understand what was happening to his son.
Mr Banda, whose wife Marita died not long after giving birth to David, was having trouble dealing with the pace of the adoption process. Whilst he did understand he was giving his son up for adoption, he said, "It has all been crazy. Everything has happened so fast. I can't believe what's happening."
Mr Banda had never heard of Madonna, and was clearly oblivious to the fact that Madonna recently outraged Christians worldwide for the 'crucifixion' scene during her Confessions tour, stating he had heard the pop superstar was, "a very nice Christian lady."
The farmer went on, "They told me a mzungu (white foreigner) had seen David's picture and liked him very much. They said she wanted to take him to America.
"They said she would give him a better life. At first I wasn't sure. I asked if it meant I would never see him again.
"They said I would be sent pictures, and when David was older he would be able to visit the village.
"My family and I agreed this was a very good opportunity for David to get an education and grow up healthy."
